How many times has it happened when a little girl has her way with her dad? “Oh Please?? I’ll do the washing up. I tidied my room. Just this once? Pleeeeeeease?”

Abraham had a similar experience. He was asking God a favour. Warned of his nephew Lot’s impending doom, he desperately pleaded with God for his rescue. If it were anyone else, who knows if the negotiation would have carried on so long?

Yet it was God who initiated the conversation, possibly because of the quality of Abraham’s character or maybe to reveal it further. God decided to reveal His plan of destruction upon the evil city of Sodom and allowed Abraham to make his requests.

Taking full advantage of this opportunity, he asked God to spare the city for 50 good people. He furthered his request to 45 righteous, then 40, then 30, then 20 and finally 10.

It looks supposedly futile that in the end, the city was not spared, as there were fewer than 10 righteous people in the city. However, the conversation reflects on Abraham’s character – that he had a close relationship with God, that he pleased God, that he had a heart for his wayward nephew.

Abraham is described as righteous (Genesis 15:6). This “Righteousness” isn’t the kind that comes from obeying a list of do’s and don'ts; it’s the kind that comes because you take God at His word, the kind that He gives you for free, the kind that comes when you accept God’s plan for you.

This sort of favour is available to everyone, not just an elite few. ‘Whoever believes in Jesus will not perish but have eternal life’ (John 3:16). Few, however, actually realise this favour.

Bending God’s ear is the result of a confidence that He is listening to you. That strong belief comes from taking what He wants to heart and making His wants your wants. Jesus showed us how much He cared for people. He revealed God’s heart for humanity. When we have a passion for people, we will pray for people and will help them no matter what. If God loves us, enough to send His only Son to die for us, should we not love others in the same way? Should we not pursue God’s best for them? Should we not bend God’s ear for them?

The Bible speaks of impending doom for the world (not a pretty thought). Let’s be people who try to ward off this judgement not bring it on our friends, neighbours, colleagues, and anyone else we meet. Let’s share the good news of free favour from God though Jesus.